Building structure



Patented Dec.21,1937

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUILDING STRUCTURE Donald M. Douglass, Wilton, Conn. Application August 2'7, 1936, Serial No. 98,151

* 13 Claims. ((11. 189-86) My invention relates to an improved structural in the provision of abuilding construction inmember whereby a substantially weather tight cluding a pair of adjoining structural members joint is made possible between it and an adjahaving complementary metal sealing strips secent structural member. cured thereto and adapted to be compressed be 5 It is an object of the invention to provide a tween the abutting'members to form a substan- 5 structural member particularly adapted for use tially'weathertight joint. I I V in the construction of prefabricated buildings. Still another feature of the invention resides A further object of the invention'is the proviin the provision of a hook shaped free end on sion of an improved building construction proeach of the sealing strips of a structural member viding a substantially weather proof seal beadapted to link a free end of a sealing strip of 10 tween adjacent structural members. anadjacent structural member and form a sub In the past it has been proposed to provide stantially weather tight joint therewith when plain and hooked flanges along adjacent edges the strips are laterally compressed together-beof adjoining structural members, adapted to be tween supporting members-0f adjacent strucl5 interlocked or engaged to form a seal between tural members. the members. In these constructions, however, Another feature of the invention consists in special tools are necessary to interlock the sealproviding a structural member: having rearwarding flanges or strips. Moreover there is no simly extending portions at opposite side edges with ple means provided for maintaining the sealing complementary metal sealing strips which overstrips or flanges in engaged relation. lie the rearwardly extending portions and are 20 An important object of the present invention formed with corrugations therein. is to provide a structural member so constructed Another feature of the invention resides in that it is adapted to be associated with an adproviding a panel with complementary supporta joining member in such a way that a substaning members underlying the same and positioned tially weather tight joint is formed therebetween along opposite side edges thereof, these supwithout the need of utilizing any special tools. porting members having laterally offset .rear- For the accomplishment of this important obwardly extending outer faces joined by forwardly ject there is provided as a feature of the invenand rearwardly facing shoulders respectfully, tion a structural member including a pair of metal sealing strips being provided to extend supporting members underlying a panel portion rearwardly from each of the panels, overlying 0 of the structural member, positioned along op-. the laterally offset faces of the complementary posite side edges thereof, the structural member supporting members and having reverse bends being provided with complementary sealing strips therein providing loops overlying the shoulders, extending rearwardly from the panel to overlie enabling the formation of a substantially weather I the outer faces of the supporting members, these tight joint when the complementary supporting sealing strips being adapted to cooperate with members of adjacent panels are moved laterally complementary sealing strips on adjacent structoward each other to compress the sealing strips tural members to form substantially weather therebetween.

tight joints therewith when laterally compressed Other and more specific objectsand features together between the supporting members of adresiding in advantageous forms, combinations 40 jacent structural members. and relations of parts will hereinafter appear. I

A further feature of the invention resides in In the drawing, illustrating thepreferred emproviding a structural member comprised of a bodiments of the'invention: I panel having a pair of underlying supporting Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a pair 5 members positioned along opposite side edges of associated structural members embodying the thereof and having a metal sheet overlying the present invention, portions of themembers bepanel and having complementary metal sealing ingbroken away for the purpose of a more clear strips formed integral therewith, extending rearillustration. v wardly from opposite side edges of the panel Fig. 2 is a detail view of adjoining portions of to overlie outer faces of the structural members, two adjacent structural members immediately 50 adapted to cooperate with complementary metal after the members have been placed in associasealing strips of adjacent structural members tion with each other. to form substantially weather tight joints there- Fig. 3 is a detail View similar to Fig.2, showing between. r the joint formed between adjacent structural Yet another feature of the n en i n. resides members after the latter have been moved later- 55 the structural members of the panels rathercthan overlying the front faces thereof.

Fig. 7 is a detail view similar to Fig. 2 showing adjoining corner portions of adjacent-structural members provided with sealing stripsof slightly modified construction. d

Fig. 8 is a detail view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a further modification of the invention.

.flfFig. 9' is .a detail view, of the'modified construction' in'.Fig. 8 .showi'ngithe.relationshipof elements after the structural. members have 1 been moved laterally toward each. other.

Fig. 10 is a detail viewof. a slightmodification of. the construction shown in Fig. 8.

.Referring more particularly to thedrawing and first to Fig. 1 there is shown agpair of: structural ,units .or;members .20 constructed'in accordance with the teachingsv of: the. present invention. in the. form'of invention there. illustrated each of the structuralaunits or members includesa panel-2|,

which maybe of "wall board orqof-any' suitable material, having a front face 22 and arear face 23. Underlying the rear face '23 of eachofthe "pan'ls' z l andp'ositioned along opposite side edges M'and 'lli thereofare a pair of panel supporting -members-2i": and ZThaving outer faces ZB and 29 respectively. The positioning of the'supporting members is suchthat the outerfaces 28'and'29 extend rearwardly'from'the side edges24.and 25 0f the panels.

Overlying the front face'22 of eachof the'panels is a relatively thin metal sheet 30, preferably of copper, but it is to' begunderstoodithat anyother suitablemetal might be used. .Aplurality of nails 3 I; spaced from the sideedges'of each panel, passing through'the metal sheet, the panel and the supporting members serve as an advantageous means of maintainingtheparts in properiassociation. If'desired the various parts may be cemented together or held together bynailsplaced in-positions other than the onesdisclosed.

Formed integral with themetalfsheet 3flran'd extending rearwardly therefrom to overlie the outer faces 28 and 29 of' the supportingmembers .26..and 27 respectively-are the complementary metal sealing strips32 and '33. lIhese strips32 and 33 areprefer ably and as shown eaclr'formed withihookshape'd freeiends 34 a'nd35providir'1g forwardlyexten'ding portions 36 andi3'l. The ad- .vantages of forming each ofthe sealingstrips with hookshaped free ends will hereinafter appear. W

.. -,As shownclearly in Fig 1, the hook shaped free end 35 of the sealing strip '33 of one adjoining structuralmember is adapted toilinkthehook shapedfree end 34. of the complementarysealing strip-32 0f "the other adjoining structural member. Movement of the adj acent. supporting members .26. and..21 ,of V the adjoiningstructural mem- .-bers20 laterally. toward. eachother compresses .the complementary sealing .,str ips ltherebetween to thereby form a substantially weather tight joint construction.

While the supporting members are illustrated as formed of wood, it is within the purview of the present invention to provide metal supporting members having conventional U and L shaped cross sections. The important requirement is that they provide outer faces which constitute portions 38 and 39 extending rearwardly from adjacent the side edges of thepanel.

Structural members constructed in accordance withthe presentinvention are particularly applicable for use in the construction of prefabricated *buildings in that their use makes possible an especially satisfactory joint construction.

Preferably the individual structural members are completely formed prior to being brought to =the place at which they are to be used, but if desired the structural members may be assembled in the-field. x a

a When it is .desiredto construct .abuilding one structural men'iberlis placed in positionas by nailing we base board o'rlin any. other suitable manner. "Another 'structural..member.is.then placed along side of the .firstone and the free ends 34 and '35 of complementaryv sealing strips32. and. 33 of the adjoining structural members are. linkedor interlocked. inithe manner shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2.

The newlyplaced structural member is then moved laterally toward the. first placed structural member to compress together the complementary sealing strips 32 and33between the adjacent supporting gmembers 26. and .21 of theadjoining ,panels. .Inthis manner the hook shaped free end 350i the sealing strip 33. is seen to closely envelop the free end-34 'of the sealing strip32 thus forming. a substantially weather tight seal as shown in -Fig. 3. V r

Should, for any reason, the supporting members not be'initiallyrfully compressed together or .should. they becomesli ghtly separated after they have been compressed together, because of shrinkage inthepanels or the like, the hook.

shaped free ends of either or both of the sealing strips expand to form .an effective seal against Water entering the building. .In addition to the sealachieved by-the linking of the free end 34 by the hook shaped free end 35 there is an additional seal achieved because of the natural yield or expansion of the forwardly extending portion 36 of the linked free end 34 of the sealing strip .32 whichhas a normal tendency to move out- .wardly to engage the linking sealing strip 33. This, .in effect, createsa .double seal and thus makes. for a more highly eflicient joint. A. further. seal is achieved by the forwardly extending portion 31' of the-linking-sealing strip 33 which has. anormal tendency to expand outwardly and engage the outer face .28 of the adjacent supporting member 26 of the adjoining structuralmem .ber. v.FI'he provision of hook shaped free ends on each of the complementary sealing stripsis'seen, therefore, toconstitute an important feature of the invention. y d

The means for moving the supporting members 26 and Z'Iofadjoining structural members laterally relatively. to each other may be a set of screw clamps. A very simple manner. of accomplishing this result, however; and the one illustrated is merelytqforce a plurality of fastening elements, such asna-ils-fifi, through the adjacent supporting members28 and 21 and thus in effect squeeze the members together to compress the sealing strips. V a

It is to be noted that in the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 through 3,the front or forward faces 22 of the panels are completely covered by the metal sheets 30. This gives the finished structure a protective metallic covering and is particularly applicable to a construction in which it is desired to use panels of a material not especially satisfactory for resisting weather of various kinds. With this construction it is possible to use a relatively inexpensive material for the panels and still achieve a weather proof and permanent construction. I

In the case of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 where there are disclosed only the adjoining portions of like constructed structural units or members 20a, the metal sheets lapping the front face of the panels are shown formed merely as marginal strips 4| and 42 .ratherthan as metal sheets completely overlying the front faces of the panels.

.rear face 23 and having a pair of supporting members 26 and 21 underlying the rear face and positioned along opposite side edges thereof. Also,

as inthe case of the construction first described, complementary sealing strips 32 and 33 having hook shaped free ends 34 and 35 extend rearwardly from opposite sides of the panel to overlie rearwardly extending outer faces 28 and 29 of the supporting members 26 and 21. Inasmuch as the sealing strips 32 and 33 are formed integral with the marginal strips 4! and 42 respectively, nails 43 passing through the marginal strips, panel and supporting members maintain all of the various parts of each structural member in proper association.

It is clear, therefore, that the joint construction achieved by associating the modified structural members shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will be exactly the same as that achieved by the use of the structural members illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In each case the hook shaped free end 35 of one sealing strip is linked around the free end 34 of the sealing strip of an adjoining structural member and the complementary sealing strips then compressed together between the, adjacent supporting members of adjoining structural members to form a substantially weather tight seal therebetween.

It is to be noted that no special tools are needed for interlocking or linking the sealing strips of adjoining members, it being necessary merely to link the strips and then squeeze them together between the supporting members which may be more permanently maintained in squeezed or compressed relation by nails, bolts or any other conventional fastening elements.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 6, in which adjoining portions only of two like structural units or members 2617 are disclosed, is precisely the same as that illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 with the exception that the marginal strips 4| and 42 lapping the panels 2! are interposed between the supporting members 2'6 and 21 and the rear faces 23 of the panels rather than positioned to overlie the front faces 22 of the panels; The complementary sealing strips 32 and 33 are formed integral with the marginal lapping strips 4| and 42 and are linked and compressed between supporting members 26 and 21 of adjacent structural members in the same manner as in the case of the construction shown in Figs. land 5.

If desired, in order that the seal between adjoining structural .members may be more efficient, thesealing strips described-and shown in Figs. 1 through 6 may be formed with corrugations therein; Such a construction is seen in Fig. '7 where there isillustrated the adjoining portions only of two like constructed structural units'or members 200.. I

As shown, the metal sheets lappingthe panels 2| are formed as marginal strips .44 and 45, but

if desired the sheets may be formed to; completely" overlie the front faces of the panels as illustrated in Fig. 1. Extending rearwardly from the marginal strips and formed integral therewith are complementary sealing strips 46 and 41, overlying the outer faces 28 and 29, of the supporting members 26 and 2'! respectively which extend rearwardly from the side edges of the adjoining panels. a

. Sealing strips at opposite sides of each structural member are formed with complementary corrugations therein and are provided with hook shaped free ends adapted respectively to link and be linked with complementary sealing strips Y on adjacent or adjoining structural members.

As 'clearly'illu'strated in Fig. '7, when two structural members are placedalong side of each other the hook shaped free end 49 of a sealing strip; 41 of one structural member links the free end 48 of a sealing strip 46 of, the adjoining structural member When the adjacent supporting members 26 and-21 of the adjoining structural members are moved laterally toward each other in the manner described in connection with the constructions heretofore considered, complementary corrugations 50 and 5| formed in the sealing strips 4'6 and 41 are fitted one with the other and the linked strips arecompressed between the supporting members to achieve a joint construction which constitutes an especially weather tight seal. Nails, bolts or any other conventional fastening elements may beutilized to maintain the I structural members in closely adjacent relation.

When an even more effective joint construction is desired the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and9 may be utilized; In those figures there are shown the adjoining portions of two like constructed structural units or members 20d.

As in the case of each of the other constructions described each of the structural members 20d includes a panel 2|, supporting members 52 and 53 underlying each of the panels and positioned alongopposite side edges thereof, and

complementary sealing strips 54 and 55, extending rearwardly from the side edges of the panels and formed integral with metal sheets 56 and 51 lapping the panels. These sheets may be in the form of marginal strips as shown or they may completely overlie the panels as illustrated in Fig. 1.

As shown, the supporting member 52 underlying the rear face 23 of onefof the panels 2| and positioned along a side edge thereof is formed with laterally offset rearwardly extending outer faces 58 and 59 respectively. The face 58 extends from a side edge of the panel and is joined to the other face 59 by an inwardly extending rearwardly facing shoulder 66. e

The supporting member 53 underlying the rear face 23 of the panel 2| of the adjoining structural member and positioned along the adjacent side edge thereof is formed with laterally offset rearwardly extendingouter faces 6| and 62 respectively. The face 6| extends from a side edge of the panel and is joined to the other face 62 by joining shoulder 60.

therewith complementary sealing strips 54 and 55' respectively.

One of the sealing strips 54 has portions 66 and .61 overlying the laterally offset faces 58 and 59 respectively of the supporting member 52, and 'an-inter'mediate portion 68'formed with reverse bends to provide loops 69 and 10 overlyingthe A hook shaped free end H is provided on the sealing strip as in the case of the sealing strips described hereinbefore. V

The'other sealing strip 55 has portions 12 and 13 overlying the laterally offset faces 6| and-62 respectively of'the adjacent supporting member 53 of the adjoining structural member, and an intermediate portion 74 with reverse bends providing loops l and 76 overlying the joining shoulder 63. A hook shaped free end 11 formed onthe sealing strip 55 is adapted to linktl e free end H of the complementary sealing strip'65 of the adjoining structural member as shown in Fig. 8.

When the adjoining structural members'are moved toward each other the loops 15 and 16 of the sealing strip 55 are forced over the loops 69 and'lfl of the complementary sealing strip 54 andthe loops oftherespective sealing strips are compressed or partially squeezed together between the oppositely facing shoulders 60 and 63 of the adjacent supporting members. 'At the same time the linked free ends ll and T! are compressed between the offsetfaces 59 and 62 of the adjacent supporting members. The weather tight joint construction thus achieved is shown clearly in Fig. 9.

With this construction, as in the case of the construction shown in Figs-l through '7, ,no spe- -cial tools are needed in the field for setting up and joining the structural members in the setting up of a prefabricated building or other structure.

' Suitable fastening elements such as the nailsl8 shown may be used for maintaining adjacent supporting members of adjoining structural members in compressed relation.

If desired, the construction. disclosed in Figs. 8

and 9 may be modified as shown in Fig. 10 by slightly spreading the loops 69' and 10' and-the loops l5 and 16 formed in the complementary sealing strips 56 and 55' respectively. With this modification, the loop 69 of the strip 54 may fit into loop of the strip 55' while the loop 16 'of the strip 55 may fit into the loop 10f of the strip 54. In all other particulars the slightly modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 10 is the same as the form illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The intimate relation between the complementary sealing strips is accomplished by moving adjoining structural members toward each other to compress the linked free ends H and ll be- ,tween the offset faces 59 and 62 of adjacent supporting members. At the same time, the outwardly extending loops 69. and 16" of the sealing strips 54' and 55' respectively, are forced into the inwardly extending loops l5 and '79 and are compressed between the oppositely facing shoulders 60 and 63.

With this construction, as in the case of the constructions heretofore described the adjacent supporting members of adjoining structural units or members may be held in compressed relation by any conventional fastening elements'such as "natal-52 nails, boltsor'clamps. Because'of'the intimate relationship between the loops of cooperating sealing strips, however, it is possible, by using a slightly heavier sealing-strip to dispense with the use ofany other means, such as nails or bolts, for maintaining adjoining structural members in compressed relation. This locking feature constitutes an additional advantage of the modification shown in Fig. 10.

Having thus described the claimed as new is:

l. A structural member including a panel havinvention, what is ing a front face and a rear face; a pair of panel supportingmembers underlying the rear face of said panel, positioned along opposite side edges thereof; outer faces'on said supporting members, extending rearwardly from said panel; and complementary metal sealing strips extending rearwardly' from said panelto overlie said outer faces,

panel supporting members underlying the rear faces ofand positioned along adjacent side edges of said adjoining panels; outer faces on said supporting members, extending rearwardly from. said panels; complementary metal sealing strips extending rearwardly from each of said 'panels'to overlie said outer faces, cooperable to form a substantially weather tight joint between .said panels when the supporting members of adjoining panels are laterally compressed together; and means for maintaining said'supporting members in a laterally compressed relation- 3. 'A structural memberincluding a panel. hav- I ing a front face and a rear face; a pair of panel supporting members underlying the rear face of said panel, positioned along opposite side edges thereof; outer faces on said supporting members extending rearwardlyffromsaid panel; arelatively thin'metal sheet overlying the front face 'of said panel; and'complementarymetal sealing strips formed integral with the metal sheet, extending rearwardly therefrom to overlie said outer faces, adapted to cooperate with complementary metal strips. on adjacent structuralmembers to form substantially: weather tight jointstherebetween.

4. A building construction comprising a pair of adjoining panels having front and rearfaces;

panel supporting members underlying therear faces of and positioned along adjacent side-edges of said adjoining panels; .outer. faces on said supporting members, extending rearwardly from said panels; relatively thin metal sheets overlying front faces of each of said panels; complementary metal sealing strips formed integral with the metal sheets extending rearwardly therefrom-to -overlie said outerfaces, cooperable to form a.

substantially weather tight joint between said panels when the supporting members of the adjoining panels are laterally compressed together; and means for maintaining said supporting menibers in a laterally compressed relation.

15. A structural member including a panel having a front face and a reanface; a panel supporting'member underlying the rear face 'of said panel, positioned along a side edge thereof; and a metal sheet having a portion lapping said panel and having a portion extending rearwardly from the side edge thereof, said rearwardly extending portion constituting a-sealing'strip adapted'to cooperate with a complementary sealing strip on portions extending rearwardly from adjacent side edges of said adjacent panels; a sealing strip overlying one of said rearwardly extending portions, having a hook shaped free end; a second sealing strip overlying the other "of said rearwardly extending portions, having a free end linked by the hooked free end of said first named strip, whereby a substantially weather tight joint is formed between adjacent panels when the rearwardly extending portions are laterally compressed together.

7. A structural member including a panel having a front and arear face; portions extending rearwardly from opposite side edges of said panel; a metal sealing strip overlying one of said rearwardly extending portions, having a hook shaped free end; and a second metal sealing strip overlying the other of said rearwardly extending portions, having a hooked free end adapted to link a hooked free end of a sealing strip of an adjacent structural member, whereby a substantially weather tight joint is formed when. the rearwardly extending portions of adacent structural members are laterally compressed together.

8. A building construction including a pair of adjacent panels having front and rear faces; panel supporting members underlying the rear faces of and positioned along adjacent side edges of said adjacent panels; outer faces on said adjacent supporting members extending rearwardly from said panels; metal sheets lapping each of said panels; a sealing strip integral with one of said sheets, overlying the outer face of one of said supporting members, having a hook shaped free end; and a second sealing strip formed integral with the other of said metal sheets overlying the outer face of the other supporting member, having a free end linked by the hooked free end of said first named strip, whereby a substantially weather tight joint is formed between adjacent panels when the supporting members of adjacent panels are moved laterally toward each other,

9. A structural member including a panel having a front and a rear face; portions extending rearwardly from opposite side edges of said panel; a metal sealing strip overlying one of said rearwardly extending portions, having corrugations therein and a hook shaped free end; and a complementary metal sealing strip overlying the other of said rearwardly extending portions, having corrugations therein complementary to the corrugations of said first named strip and a free end adapted to be linked by a complementary sealing strip of an adjacent structural member, whereby a substantially weather tight joint is formed when the rearwardly extending portions of adjacent structural members are laterally compressed together.

10. A building construction including a pair of adjacent panels having front and rear faces; portions extending rearwardly from adjacent side edges of said adjacent panels; metal sheets lapping each of said panels; a sealing strip integral with one of said sheets, overlying one of said rearwardly extending portions, having corrugations therein and a hook shaped free end; and a complementary' metal sealing strip overlying v the other of said rearwardly extending portions, having corrugations therein complementary to the corrugations of said first named strip and a hook shaped free end linking the free end of said first named strip, whereby a substantially weather tight joint is formed between adjacent fpanels I when the rearwardly extending portions are laterally compressed together.

11. A building construction including'a pair, of

adjacent panels having front andrear faces; a

panel supporting member underlying-the rear face of one of said panels, positioned along a side edge thereof; said supporting member having laterally offset rearwardly extending outerrfaces joined by an inwardly extending rearwardly facing shoulder; a second panel supporting member underlying the rear face of the other of said panels, positioned along a side edge thereof adjacent said first namedpanel; said second supporting member having laterally offset rearwardly extending outer faces joined by an outwardly ex-,

tending forwardly facing shoulder, constituting a supporting member complementary to said first named supporting member; metal sheets lapping each of said panels; a metal sealing strip formed integral with one of said sheets, overlying the laterally offset faces of one of said supporting members, having reverse bends therein providing loops overlying the joining shoulder and having a free end; and a second metal sealing strip formed integral with the other of said sheets,

overlying the laterally offset faces of the other of said supporting members, having reverse bends therein providing loops overlying the joining shoulder and having a hook shaped free end linking the free end of the other sealing strip, whereby a substantially weather tight joint is formed when the complementary supporting members of the adjacent panels are moved laterally toward each other to compress said hook shaped end between said offset faces and to compress said loopsbetween said shoulders.

12. A structural member including a panel having a front and a rear face; a pair of panel supporting members underlying the rear face of said panel, positioned along opposite side edges thereof, one of said supporting members having laterally ofiset rearwardly extending outer faces joined by an inwardly extending rearwardly facing shoulder, the other of said supporting members having laterally ofiset rearwardly extending outer faces joined by an outwardly extending forwardly facing shoulder, constituting a supporting member complementary to said first named supporting member; a metal sheet overlying said panel; metal sealing strips formed integral with said sheet and extending rearwardly therefrom, overlying the laterally offset faces of said complementary supporting members and having intermediate portions overlying said shoulders; and one of said strips having a hook shaped free end adapted to link a free end of a sealing strip of an adjacent complementary structural member, whereby a substantially weather tight joint is formed when complementary supporting members of adjacent structural members are moved laterally toward each other to compress said hook shaped end between said offset faces and to compress said intermediate portions between said shoulders.

l3. Abuilding construction including a pair of adjacent panels having. front andrear faces; a panel supporting member underlying the rear face of one of said panels, positioned along a side edge thereof; said supporting member havinglaterally offset rearwardly extending outer faces joined by an inwardly extending rearwardly facin'glshoulder; a second panel supporting member underlying the rear face of the other of said panels, positioned along a side edge thereof adjacent'said first named panel; said second supporting member having laterally offset rearwardly extending outer faces joined by an outwardly extending forwardly facing shoulder, constituting a supporting member complementary to said first named supporting member; metal sheets lapping each of said panels; a metal sealing strip formed integral with one of said sheets, overlying the laterally ofiset face of one of said supporting members, having an intermediate portion mentary supporting members of the adjacent panels are moved laterally toward each other to compress said hook shaped end between said off set faces and to compress said intermediate portions between-said shoulders.

DONALD M; DOUGLASSQ 

